Monday, December 23rd, 2024: J leaves for Landings meeting, Armando @ Hatch's, Dr. Memon's new project, I wrap 11 gifts, Jersey MIke's, J works on bids and cash from Salvador, Salvador's retirement, Wlmrt on Gilbert & Germann, "Wicked"

 

Trujillo, Peru

147th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 June 2015

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

Helaman 5:9

Come Follow Me

Dec. 23-29: "He Shall Come Into the World to Redeem His People"

Introduction

October General Conference

'Simple is the Doctrine of Jesus Christ'

President Henry B. Eyring

" The Book of Mormon says: 'And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just - yea, it had ... more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them - therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

James and I are staying at Stacy and Paul's this trip. We are in an upstairs bedroom where Jared Ammon stayed. There are two twin beds. Stacy said there were no sheets, so we brought sheets. There is no fan in this room so I asked James to please open the window. We are sharing a bathroom with Joshua who is across the hall.

James had a meeting this morning at 8 with Donna Ramsey at The Landings to look at some more work. She loves James and when he told her about his recent health scare, she gave him a big hug. James says she is probably 65 years old and she has cancer.

After his meeting at The Landings, James met Armando at Hatch's. Armando is beside himself. He had planned on going to see his kids in Wyoming for Christmas but Susan, his wife, said it would not be convenient for him to come on Christmas day. This is after saying he could come. When he asked for the day after Christmas, she said that wasn't convenient either. She finally said he could come the day after when he protested and reminded her that she keeps changing her mind. He also had his attorney mail a notice that he was filing for divorce. When he asked for her parents' address, she gave him a different address. I feel so sad for him to have to deal with all of this, especially at Christmas time. His son Chandler asked if he could please come and live with him.

While James was out and about he got a call from his cardiologist, Dr. Memon. The doctor wants James to come and bid on some work for him. I didn't know about this or the visit with Armando when I called James to see where he was. He had originally told me he would be gone an hour or so. It was after noon when he finally returned.

We were both hungry so we went out to get something to eat. We agreed on Jersey Mike's. We sat in the car in the parking lot near Jersey Mike's to eat. James finished his sandwich, he was really hungry, and I finished half of mine. I wrapped the other half to save it for later. I told James we were not going to eat at Stacy's because the smell of our sub sandwiches would bother her. I wrapped my half sandwich and put it in the paper bag it came in, closing it tight. When I got back to Stacy's I took my sandwich and put it in one of my bags and closed it. Stacy and Joshua were gone shopping when we returned. As soon as Stacy came in she said, "something smells like onions, what is that? It smells like Subway." I didn't say anything. She finally said it must be Paul's Spanish rice which was sitting on the counter. My first opportunity I took my sandwich upstairs in our bedroom. I had told James it would be like this, but I really thought I had covered my tracks.

Now that the car is back I can begin wrapping gifts. I wrapped 11 today, exactly half of what I must wrap. No bows, there just isn't time. While I was wrapping in the family room at the coffee table, James was at the kitchen table working on the bid for Dr. Memon. He finished and then went to Salvador's to pick up some cash he owes us.

I finished wrapping Stacy's family's gifts, and all of Sheri's family except Ben & Cayli's, eleven in all. Time to get ready to go to the movie. We are seeing "Wicked" with Sheri, Kim, Ben, Cayli, and Nancy Van Vleet. I am excited!

We were a little early so we did a little shopping at the Walmart near the theater on Gilbert & Germann. Afterwards we met Sheri, Kim, Ben, and Cayli in front of the theater. We got snacks and went to sit in our assigned seats. There were maybe two or three other people in the theater we were in. Of course Sheri got seats in the row where we can rest our feet against the railing. This movie is almost three hours long so we need to be comfortable.

We all loved the movie, even James and Ben. Nancy said we have a date to come back next year on December 23rd to see part two. We all agreed.

On the way back to Stacy & Paul's, James was hungry so we stopped at Sonic and he got a burger.

Stacy asked us how we liked the movie when we got back to her house. We both said we really liked it and we were looking forward to part 2. James did some walking outside before going to bed.

 

Stacy and her dogs

"Wicked"

Sheri is our fearless leader

Alex's trip to 

Costa Rica

Charlie memory

I couldn't resist posting these

Sunday, December 22nd, 2024: Ward choir sings prelude music, Christmas program highlight, Jennifer Golly singing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", goodbye Vernon hello Chandler, Family Christmas Party @ Stacy & Paul's

Payson, Utah

146th operating temple

Dedicated: 7 June 2015

By: Henry B. Eyring

Book of Mormon

Title Page

Come Follow Me

Review

October General Conference

'O Youth of the Noble Birthright'

Brother Bradley R. Wilcox

"It is one thing to be loved and another thing entirely to be trusted. In the 'For the Strength of Youth' guide, we read: 'Your Father in Heaven trusts you. He has given you great blessings, including the fulness of the gospel and sacred ordinances and covenants that bind you to Him and bring His power into your life. With those blessings comes added responsibility. He knows you can make a difference in the world, and that requires, in many cases, being different from the world."

When we walked in to sacrament meeting this morning our ward choir was singing the prelude music. I didn't even know we had a ward choir. They sounded great.

Our ward Christmas program consisted of a few families telling something about one of their favorite Christmas hymns and then everyone singing the hymn. The Gassaway's were first, then the Jensen's, Wendy DeWitt, and for the last number Jennifer Golly sang, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." I love Jennifer's voice and she did an amazing job on the hymn. It was beautiful and I went up and told her so after the meeting was over. Sister Jensen and six of her children sang an unfamiliar hymn and harmonized beautifully. She told the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and we sang the hymn/carol "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Oh, I almost forgot, the Primary children sang too.

After the meeting I also spoke with Julie Wilhelm and Shelly and Jordyn Applegate. We had no second hour and so we went home and had lunch. I made tuna sandwiches and then we each had a nap, along with Tom. 

Happy Sabbath!

Brent & Rebecca's family

Scarlett

Charlie

Our naps were short as we needed to get ready to go to the valley. The family Christmas party starts at 6 pm so we needed to leave before 2:30. Tom looks worried as we hustle around the house getting things ready to go. We ended up leaving him outside because we couldn't find him when we left. Easton Crane is going to feed him and Sammy (can't decide if I should used an i or a y), and the horses. When Easton feeds Tom he will let him in the house and out again later according to Tom's desires. We told him, "Tom is the boss." The problem is, he never saw Tom the entire time we were gone. His food did disappear.

 I packed 22 blankets into the car. I will have to wrap them while staying at Stacy's. We left somewhere between 1:30 and 2 and delivered gifts to Virgil and the Halcomb's. The MacArthur's are still in the valley. We will stop by Christmas day to deliver their gifts.

We arrived at Stacy & Paul's in time to get heat up our mini pigs in a blanket appetizers. I headed up the steak bites too, but they were disgusting so I ended up throwing them away. I also put out my pink yogurt pretzels. 

Some of my favorite food at the party: Ruby's mac and cheese, everyone raved about it, Sheri's pulled pork, and Kim & Brian's chips and salsa from Chili's. Paul made Spanish rice and it was very good too. There were lots of goodies and cookies, and plenty of food although we did run out of Sheri's pulled pork.

The first game played was the money game. I had brought my $3 but it was so crowded around the table I decided not to play. Kaitlyn Booth didn't play either. She still feels guilty about winning last year. Lola ended up winning the jackpot, $63.

If James couldn't win, I'm glad

it was Lola. From now on we are

calling her Lucky Lola.

In the White Elephant game Evan got the #1, the best number to have. Many people knew which package had the poster in it, but Alayna didn't know. She picked it and then gave it to Ian and took what he had, so Ian was the first one to open the poster package.

Ian thought he had the poster for a year but Evan had a surprise planned. When it came back around to Evan, he took the poster from Ian, we were all shocked, and then he gave it to Joshua as Joshua was standing next to him saying, "Evan wouldn't do that to me." Evan did because he wanted the In N Out gift card that Joshua had. 

Here is Joshua, the final winner of the poster.

Evan getting ready to give the poster to Joshua.

Adam is the one that started the poster back in 2010.

When we use to have the Lambson family Christmas party with all of Lois's family in the valley, including her, we had a Patrick Lambson poster that went around. When we started having our own family parties I guess Adam figured we needed another poster.

For our gifts, I got a puzzle, and James got See's chocolates. Those attending this year's party: Paul, Stacy, Adam and his friend Kaitlyn Booth, who comes every year, Dallin, Michael, Joshua, Alayna, Kim, Brian, Joseph, Ian, Sheri, Ben & Cayli, Evan, Darrel, Trina, Addy, Ruby and Lola, and James and I. Max and Rowan both had to work. 

Kacey gave me an idea for next year, although I need to talk to her again to make sure I have all of the information. Every family is assigned a name the Savior goes by, such as the Good Shepherd. The family talks about what this name means to them and the significance of it in our lives. They get an ornament with the name on it. I love this idea!

I love the purple lights although you can't really

see them in this picture.

Here are some more photos from Kim

 

 

Saturday, December 21st, 2024: 40 gifts to wrap & 3 wks behind on my blog, hi for 1st day of winter 61 degrees, wrapped & watched, trip to town, cut James's hair, Taylor Lautner poster,

 

Cordoba, Argentina

145th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 May 2015

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Book of Mormon

Moroni 10:30-33

Come Follow Me

I can be perfected through the grace of Jesus Christ

Video

October General Conference

'Days Never to Be Forgotten'

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"This statement from a New York Times article represents the spirit of much of the international coverage: 'In a United States presidential election cycle that has prompted soul-searching about aging and leadership, Mr. Nelson's milestone suggests that, at least in his church, a triple-digit birthday does not merit much hand-wringing. He remains a popular figure among church members, who view their president not just as an executive but as a 'prophet, seer, and revelator.'"

I have 40 gifts to wrap and three weeks of a blog to catch up on. 

The high today, for the first day of winter, in Vernon, Arizona was 61 degrees. Where is winter and where is the snow? Did we get it all in one day on November 4th?

I worked on my blog this morning and then began wrapping gifts in the wrapping station I set up in our bedroom. I wrapped and watched Christmas movies, one of my Christmas traditions. Kim texted me and reminded me I had the Taylor Lautner poster for the white elephant game we are playing tomorrow night at the family Christmas party. I totally would have forgotten. I'm supposed to wrap it with a real gift, which I did, an ASU hat. For our other gift for the game I wrapped the birdhouse puzzle I bought at Sam's Club and was going to give to Kim for her birthday. 

Here are the other gifts I wrapped today: A red and black plaid blanket to give to Virgil Cooper, a pink blanket for Catherine Halcomb, and a Indian design blue blanket for Kerri Halcomb. I already wrapped three blankets for the MacArthur kids, a turquoise one for Peyton, pink for Scotlyn, and a Spiderman one for Boone. He loves Spiderman. I also wrapped a Savior calendar for Chelsea & Jarred. 

James and I made a trip to town this afternoon. I needed to buy some chicken for the Christmas dinner Alayna and Joshua are going to make. I bought other needed items to the tune of $170.87. We did not get any fast food, we went home and ate TV dinners.

I wrapped only two more gifts, without bows, before going to bed, Paul & Stacy's. 

I talked a lot to Tom today who was in the house most of the day. I am going to miss him while we are gone to the valley for Christmas.

I finished my blog through November 1st and this evening I cut James's hair in preparation for the Sabbath.

Friday, December 20th, 2024: Agonizing over leaving Tom on Sunday, James's feet hurt discovers shoes on wrong feet, Oil changed in car, Ministering with Kathy, Dr. calls, she has pneumonia, 20-30 head of antelope, sorted & assigned blankets, some left, more Christmas cards,

Phoenix, Arizona

144th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Nov 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Book of Mormon

Moroni 10:8-25

Come Follow Me

God has given me spiritual gifts.

October General Conference

'Seek Him with All of Your Heart'

Bishop L. Todd Budge

"Being still is an act of faith and requires effort. Lectures on Faith states, 'When a man works by faith he works by mental exertion.'

President Nelson declared: 'Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.' Speaking of this need to focus our minds, President David O. McKay said: 'I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion....Meditation is one of the...most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.'"

Tom is spending more and more time in the house the past few days. I am agonizing over the fact that we are leaving on Sunday and I don't know what we are going to do with him. Do we leave him inside or outside?

When James got up this morning he said his feet hurt. He has neuropathy and his feet hurt quite often. After feeding the horses, breakfast, and family prayer, James left for Walmart to get the oil changed in the car. While he was in town he also walked over to Sonoran Lab to get the bloodwork done that Dr. Moffat ordered. He bought cat food at Walmart and horse feed at Tractor Supply on the way home. When he got home he said to me: "Remember when I said my feet hurt this morning? Well, I went all morning with my shoes on the wrong feet." I'm sorry but I couldn't help myself, I had to laugh.

Kathy Crane and tried to go ministering this afternoon. We visited Janna Grombach. I gave her a Simon Dewey calendar of the Savior for 2025 and Kathy gave her a cute stuffed bird. We had a nice visit with Janna. She is such a dear friend. Kathy said a prayer before we left. 

The other sisters we visit are Chelsea MacArthur who is in the valley today with her kids and husband. They went down to see the zoo lights. Catherine Halcomb is our other sister and she says she is sick and that we shouldn't visit because she doesn't want to make us sick. 

I called Catherine and said we just wanted to drop off some gifts. That we would leave them on her porch and text her after we left. She agreed that would be fine. When we got to her house her daughter Kerri was outside. We gave her the gifts, the same things we left at Janna's. Kerri is very worried about her mom and we spent some time talking to her. I think it made her feel better just to talk to someone. 

On the way home we saw 20-30 head of antelope in the field where they normally are. They were down by the horses and the watering hole. I love antelope, they are my favorite.

Kathy called me after she dropped me off at home. She says the doctor called and said she had pneumonia. She felt better today because she was on Prednisone. The call was actually from the Urgent Care where she went today and they did an X-ray. I remembered Kathy in our family prayer this evening.

I sorted out all of the blankets I have this evening. Everyone in the family has one and there are enough left for the MacArthur kids, Kerri and Catherine, and Virgil Cooper.

Here is a list of other family and friends who sent us Christmas cards:

Brian & Amy Lemmerman, the Vernon ward council, the Johnston's, James's mom and Dawn, Kim & Brian, Ruth Gale, Steve & Carmen Estes & family, and Chuck & Kathy Crane.

My cat jailer

A few of the antelope we saw today. There were

about three times this many.